Teen will help raise awareness of diabetes

Winston-Salem — Taylor Mowery, 16, is one of 150 children throughout the United States selected to represent her state on Capitol Hill this summer to remind Congress and the Administration of the need to find a cure for a disease they live with every day: type 1 (juvenile) diabetes.

A junior at Northwest Guilford High School, she is the daughter of Salisbury native Paul Mowery and his wife, Susan, a graduate of Catawba College, and the granddaughter of Harold and Peggy Mowery of Salisbury.

Taylor will be among delegates ages 4 to 17 representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia — and all diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. They will converge on Washington to tell their stories and urge lawmakers to help find a cure during the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's Congress June 22-24.

Taylor has been named a delegate representing North Carolina in the Children's Congress. JDRF is the world's largest charitable funder of type 1 diabetes research.

Led by JDRF International Chairman Mary Tyler Moore, the Children's Congress will include congressional visits by the child delegates and a congressional hearing where Moore, select delegates, researchers and business and community leaders will testify on the need for continued funding for research on diabetes and related complications.

Moore and the child delegates, under the theme of "Promise to Remember Me," will ask Congress to support an increase in federal funding for diabetes research.

Taylor, who was selected to Children's Congress through JDRF's Piedmont Triad Chapter, was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 12 years old.

The day-to-day fight to stay alive is a struggle for her and her family.

"I cannot wait for the day that finger pricks, insulin dosage, and the roller coaster of low and high blood sugars are no longer a part of each day for me," Taylor said in a press release. "I am excited about my opportunity to spread the message to our legislators in Washington, D.C., that funding for diabetes research is critical so that I may live a normal life without the fear of the complications that can result from having diabetes."

Taylor is active. She pitches fast-pitch softball and gives private pitching lessons to younger girls.

Her team for the annual JDRF walk in Greensboro, Taylor's Turbos, raised $16,000 last year. She has sponsored a team in the walk each of the four years since she was diagnosed raising a total of over $60,000.

She is most appreciative of the support from Salisbury family and friends.

More than 1,500 children from all 50 states between the ages of 4 and 17 applied to take part in Children's Congress 2009. Children were selected by committee based on the need for focus in their congressional district and in a way that divided the group evenly by ages.

For more information, visit the JDRF Web site at www.jdrf.org or call 800-533-CURE.